The 13-year-old Teesside girl who alleged she had been raped outside a Teesside nightspot today admitted she made the story up.

After quizzing a 23-year-old man arrested over the alleged rape, detectives again interviewed the "victim" today - when she admitted making the false allegation.

The man, who came forward after hearing of the allegations, has been released.

But furious Cleveland Police have slammed her actions and will caution her for wasting police time.

A force spokesman said: "Following the man's version of events, a 13-year-old girl was seen today and admitted making a false allegation.

"As a result, the complaint has been withdrawn and she will be cautioned for wasting police time."

He added: "Reported incidents of this nature raise the fear of crime.

"This is a malicious allegation against a member of the public that diverted a wide range of police resources into investigating an incident which simply didn't happen.

"This was not only a costly exercise for us but it blighted the name of this area and the widespread publicity generated by this fictitious allegation paints a bad image of the town which is totally unjustified."

The girl - who is said to look older than her age - was out with a friend, also 13, at the Purple Onion nightspot in Middlesbrough town centre on Saturday night prior to the fictitious attack.

Police were called soon after 12.15am on Sunday when the girl was found crying in the toilet of the pub by her friend. She went on to tell the friend she had been raped.

The alarm was raised when a member of the public saw the girls huddled in the same toilet and called the police.

A major investigation was launched.

The girl had been seen leaving the nightspot holding hands with a man and later alleged she was attacked in a doorway in nearby Elliot Street, police said.